Staff
Chris Berleth - President
Chris joined the Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce in 2022 as Vice President before being named President in April 2023. Born and raised in Rhode Island, he is an Eagle Scout with a B.A. in Political Science and French from Gettysburg College. At Gettysburg, Chris fell in love with Pennsylvania, relocating to Columbia County when a prank by his sister resulted in an introduction to his (future) wife Kali. Chris is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Susquehanna Valley. While an executive with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber, he was part of the team that was named Pennsylvania Association of Chamber Professionals (PACP) "2019 Chamber of the Year". In 2021, he was named to Pennsylvania Business Central's "Foremost Under Forty", and in 2024, Leadership Susquehanna Valley honored him with the Guy Temple Distinguished Alumnus Award. Chris loves to volunteer with his church, The Christian Gospel Fellowship and serves as an assistant coach for Millville Little League. For Chamber-related inquiries, he can be reached at cberleth@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Taryn Crayton - Director of Member Engagement
Taryn joined the Chamber in April 2023. In her role, she provides leadership in delivering a high return on investment to members by driving member connections and executing and enhancing the organization’s events, communications, and programs. Taryn began her career at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation and has worked for several small businesses. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Eastern University and is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Central Penn. Before joining the Chamber team, she worked for five years as an Advertising and Printing Sales representative with the Press Enterprise. Passionate about dance, Taryn is the owner/director of Remade by Dance in Barnesville and is a dance teacher with Danceworks by Amber in Bloomsburg. Taryn and her husband Derek live in Berwick with their dog Millie. She can be reached at tcrayton@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Brenda Flanagan - Administrative Assistant
Brenda began at the Chamber in April, 2019. She serves as the office receptionist, handles inquiries for information about the area and many of the day-to-day duties in the front office. Brenda is the person to contact if you want to sign up for an event or need information about Columbia or Montour County. You can contact her at bflanagan@columbiamontourchamber.com.
Tonya Smith – Foundation Director
Born and raised in Benton, PA, and a graduate of Benton High School, Tonya joined the Chamber staff in 2024 to give back to the local community through her role as Foundation Director. A seasoned entrepreneur, manager, and networker with thirty years of experience in small business leadership, Tonya also worked for 18 years in program development, management, and training with the US Department of Agriculture, assisting landowners and farmers. With her unique background in government and small business and her direct experience with the area’s workforce challenges, Tonya is uniquely equipped to work with area educators and employers to advance the Foundation’s initiatives in Columbia and Montour Counties. A firm believer in the power of faith, family, and community, Tonya and her husband Kirby most enjoy spending quality time with their children and grandchildren. For Foundation related inquiries, Tonya may be reached at foundation@columbiamontourchamber.com, or (570) 784-2522 ext. 407.
Debbie Sokol – Finance Assistant
At the Chamber, we're especially grateful for Debbie Sokol, who wears many hats in our community. Office Manager at Sokol, Inc., and a bookkeeper at several non-profits, Debbie has returned to the Chamber for a second stint as our finance assistant. She's a graduate of Bloomsburg University, where she holds both a Bachelor's in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, and a Master's in Business Administration. Debbie may be reached at finance@columbiamontourchamber.com.